‘Red Flags’ and ‘Red Tape’: Telehealth and pharmacy-level barriers to buprenorphine in the United States

Original research
par
Textor, Lauren, Daniel Ventricelli, & Shoshana V. Aronowitz

Date de publication

2022

Géographie

USA

Langue de la ressource

English

Texte disponible en version intégrale

Non

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Non

Évalué par des pairs

Yes

L’objectif

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively assess how efforts to increase access to buprenorphine via telehealth are implemented by prescribers and pharmacists and experienced by patients.

Constatations/points à retenir

While participants stated that telehealth for OUD treatment was a welcome option, pharmacy-level barriers to buprenorphine persisted. Geographical distance from patient to provider or pharmacist continued to serve as “red flags” for pharmacists, leading to pharmacy-level “red tape:” gatekeeping measures including geographic restrictions, telephone prescription “confirmations,” prescription cancellations and refusals. Patients’ unmet expectations of buprenorphine access in some cases led to unanticipated risks including a return to injection drug use.

La conception ou méthodologie de recherche

Interviews with patients, prescribers and clinic staff, and pharmacists

Mots clés

Policy/Regulatory
About PWUD
About pharmacists
Barriers and enablers
Transitions in care/treatment
Digital health
Stigma